Dinesh Elumalai looks back at the groundbreaking horror action thriller game Resident Evil that scared and titillated players simultaneously.
Resident Evil deserves credit for the phrase ‘survival horror’ being used to characterize a video game. A maze-like mansion filled with flesh-eating zombies, window-shattering zombie dogs, and a variety of deadly Bio Organic Weapons, or B.O.W.s, was the setting of Capcom’s 1996 PlayStation game ‘Zombieland‘.
Resident Evil created a totally new genre by deftly fusing action, exploration, and resource management while terrorizing the player at every turn.
It became a huge hit right away and has since inspired a ton of sequels and spin-offs, as well as successful forays into the worlds of film, comics, and animation.
Resident Evil is a unique jewel that transitioned from a video game to a computer game perfectly. Over the years, Capcom NexTexh has created games in the Action, Adventure, 3D, and Survival genres.
Would you believe the game’s name is different?
Yes, the series’ original name in Japan was Biohazard, but after Chris Kramer, Capcom’s director of communications, pointed out that “Biohazard” could not be trademarked in the US, it was decided to change the name in the western market. Along with other things, the name was used for a DOS game and a Metal band. Then Capcom held a corporate-wide contest to come up with a new name, finally deciding on “Resident Evil.” Given that the first game was set in an awful monster-filled mansion, it was a good joke.
Shinji Mikami and Capcom Japan were eventually persuaded that the name fit, despite Mikami later admitting that the American name was “stupid.” Kramer voted against the name because it was “super-cheesy,” but the rest of the marketing team loved it.
Is the focus of Resident Evil solely zombies?
When it comes to danger, zombies are merely the beginning. The Hunters with their extended limbs and scaly hides and the Lickers with their skinless bodies and exposed brains are just a couple of the progressively lethal and revolting creatures that Resident Evil has a terrible way of hurling at you.
There are also several human antagonists who are typically to blame for the repulsive monsters you come across and who are, often, concealing their own horrible secret.
Story
The evil Umbrella Corporation originally served as the focal point of the main Resident Evil game plot. Umbrella is a firm with connections to every significant sector of the global economy, yet they discreetly focus most of their research on bioengineering. Particularly, they have been covertly creating biological weapons through dubious methods. To develop a virus that might turn a person into a being with superhuman strength and flawless obedience, they have created the T-virus, G-Virus, and many other potent mixtures. For instance, the T-virus was designed to turn people into humanoids nicknamed “Tyrants.”
All of Umbrella’s attempts to produce its prized “Bio-Organic Weapons” (B.O.W.s) have instead resulted in virus outbreaks and widespread infection of the civilian population. Most of these experiments, however, are grossly unsuccessful, turning people into mindlessly hostile zombies. The worst outbreak, which occurred in the summer of 1998, repeatedly eluded attempts at containment, resulting in the complete annihilation of Raccoon City and all its residents.
Players have had the opportunity to assume the roles of Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, Leon S. Kennedy, and Chris’ sister Claire Redfield as they struggle to survive an outbreak and decipher the web of mysteries surrounding the Umbrella Corporation. Albert Wesker, an agent of Umbrella and an unidentified second party, is a recurring antagonist in the series. Then there is Ada Wong, whose deeds and loyalties are still up for debate.
The Resident Evil series changed course with Resident Evil 4. There is no longer an umbrella, Albert Wesker still lurks in the shadows, and the zombies have vanished. The current threat is centered on “Las Plagas,” parasites that let controllers’ control those who are infected and who yet have enough intelligence to employ weapons like guns and other weapons and rudimentary combat techniques. The main enemy of Resident Evil 5 is a brand-new Plagas parasite.
Is Resident Evil challenging to play?
The difficulty of the Resident Evil games never feels unjust. Utilizing your weapons strategically and deftly is essential for survival, which occasionally necessitates knowing when to hold back.
There are many occasions when fire is necessary, but as you begin to figure out how to dodge obstacles and find shortcuts, you will be able to save ammo for crucial moments.
Gameplay
Over the course of the franchise’s existence, Resident Evil’s gameplay has seen significant change. Each room or space a player entered in the first Resident Evil was given a cinematic viewpoint via a fixed camera. The targeting was far less accurate, and the controls were slower and harder to use than in later installments. Many of the control concerns from Resident Evil 4’s predecessors were solved by the game’s behind the back camera and over the shoulder aiming mechanism. Additionally, ammunition has typically been a rare, valuable resource, and inventory space has been restricted. However, the most current game, Resident Evil 5, has a lot more ammo available than prior games. Although this has gradually become less of a priority as the series moved more in the direction of becoming pure action games, the series has usually incorporated puzzles that call for the gathering of specific items and solving of riddles to access new sections.
Are Resident Evil video games Scary?
Resident Evil’s appeal is greatly influenced by the horror element, but there is much more to the game’s long-lasting success.
Every new Resident Evil game has horrifying new antagonists as well as lovable new heroes. It adds more dimension to a universe that has continued to twist, change, and develop throughout the years by bringing back favorites in unexpected and creative ways.
Should I start with which Resident Evil titles?
Here, there is no correct response. There is no such thing as a “definitive” Resident Evil game due to the shapeshifting nature of the series. Additionally, it depends on what you hope to get out of your first Resident Evil game.
Though, check our recommendations in the following article on where to start the game as a chronological order and as well we will provide you all with the list of release order which will provide you more insight on how you want to explore the game at your convenience. Leave your comments if you feel I have missed something about your favorite game and even if you want to know anything specific, we would like to work on it for your visual treat.
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